by theEmother | Oct 7, 2008 | business ideas & thinking, entrepreneurial mothers, inspiring women, so you think you're in business
What is anything worth? Easy: The amount of fear, pain and suffering you are willing to risk to get it.
But of course we know the math is infinitely more complicated–especially for those suffused with fear, greed and hubris that inevitably fog the equation.
The crisis on Wall Street, now coursing like a virus throughout the broader economy, is testament to our collective innumeracy when it comes to estimating risk. Complicating matters: a vast web of impenetrable financial contracts putatively designed to “absorb” risk (and reap billions in transaction fees) by sprinkling it throughout the entire financial system. Thanks to such securitization, thousands of people moved into homes they couldn’t afford. No cash? No worries–there’s plastic. And the band played on.
So the question remains: What’s worth the risk? In search of illumination, we asked a slew of strivers–entrepreneurs, politicians, athletes and show-business types–what they consider to have been the riskiest moves of their lives…read on
so… what risk are you prepared to take?
if you’ve not done the prework in terms of addressing what you would like life to look like, then that’s a little hard to answer… however
an answer is required nonetheless
some of what I do is deemed risky
“you can’t be serious!” is quite often the response
or the other…
“how did you even know you could do that?”
risk taking is like any other skill…it is a learned craft
the more you do, the better you get at it
you learn one step at a time
and when the first risk doesn’t work as well as planned, that is not the time to give up, that is the time to learn…
what happened? why did it happen? what can I do much better next time?
so… again I ask the same question, what risk(s) are you prepared to take?
by theEmother | Oct 2, 2008 | entrepreneurial mothers, inspiring women, so you think you're in business
The Human Capital Magazine published an interesting article this month on ‘Contracting – is it the Kiss of Death?‘ The article highlights some of the pros of cons of contracting and/or consulting and is a most worthwhile read. But I would also like to offer my own experience and thoughts on the matter. At aCE talentNET we are often approached by clients and associates who are considering becoming an independent consultant either through immediate circumstance (ie job restructure) or a general discontent with working the 9-5pm (or should I say 7am-8pm!) grind in the corporate jungle. For many, the appeal of becoming an independent consultant is enticing but most do not know how to go about it. My advice to these aspiring ‘independents’ or ‘free agents’! is as follows:
Build your Network! It is essential that when starting out as a consultant you have as wide a network as possible on which to draw, including past colleagues, associates, managers across a range of companies and associations. Many can get bogged down in day to day activities and decline or opt out of opportunities to expand their network. So when next considering whether to attend that networking opportunity or stay at work to write that report… the report can wait another day – go network!!!!
Be clear about your consulting specialties or preferences. When starting out as a consultant it is enticing to accept any project that comes along… all too often you can then find yourself gaining consulting and project experience in an area that is not your preference – making it difficult to then get opportunities in other specialties as too much time has elapsed since you last had tangible experience. Do not be afraid to say no to a client and recommend them to another consultant that can help them (not forgetting aCE talentNET of course!!!).
Be prepared to DO the work! All too often I hear from consultants that they want to be strategists, identifying the problem, researching the solution and making the recommendations to address. Unfortunately in many cases companies aCE work with are quite capable of doing this work themselves, what they need are the resources to implement the identified solutions. So be prepared to be the DOER!
Be strategic about building your client base and what you commit to. It is always understandable to commit to a 1-2 ongoing consulting engaging with a client (very useful for regular cashflow) however be aware that this can work against you when other full-time opportunities come available. In many cases, aCE talentNET clients require consulting full-time resources for projects ranging from 2 weeks to 3 months – consultants who do not have availability of at least 4 days per week are generally not able to be considered for these interesting and lucrative projects.
Be smart about how you use your time. If working with clients is why you want to be a consultant, then it doesn’t make sense trying to do all the others parts associated with running your own small business. Think about finding alternative arrangements for doing the administrivia around bookkeeping, invoicing and follow up, BAS, tax returns for example, and subscribe to key web sites and blogs etc which will in turn not only keep you current but also can help build your networks. Always ask the question – do I need to be doing this or can someone else?
Be realistic when rate setting. Research consultants or contractors that you know or have worked with to get a good feel for the ‘market rate’ for consultants with your skill set. But be realistic and consider too, the length of time and experience these consultants have had in the market place. Consultants who have years of experience and multiple project experiences in their CV are worth a higher premium in the marketplace. Corporate experience in 2-3 organisations over 10+ years does not translate necessarily to charging daily rates of $1200+ from the outset. Again, be realistic!
Maintain and grow your Network. I know networking has been mentioned already, but this is also important once you become a consultant, particularly if you are a very busy one! It is essential that you join relevant associations, attend seminars (many are free these days and only take 1-2 hours of your time) and keep in touch with your original network… you just never know when you will need them!
Don’t forget your Professional Development. Even as a fledgling consultant it is important that you have a strategy to keep up to date with professional development in your field. As mentioned above, you don’t need to invest a lot of money, but you do need to make it a priority to attend as many events as possible. But the best way to keep up to date is to read, read, read! This is not hard, there are a plethora of professional development forums that you can subscribe to that will keep you updated on a daily or monthly basis (including aCE talentNET!!!).
Manage the Pipeline! When times are good and you are nice and busy and earning money, it’s easy to forget about what is happening next month. But any consultant will tell you that you need to prepare for lean times as they happen to everyone! Make sure you put funds aside for when this happens but also ensure you maintain that network and manage lead generation as much as possible. Even if it is dashing off an email or two to stay in touch with potential projects/client to let them know what you’re doing and when you will be available to work with them. If this something that you really don’t want to be doing yourself, then tap into corporate talent agents such as aCE talentNET, to help do this for you.
And finally, it’s OK if consulting is not for you! It’s not for everyone… some find it too stressful to manage the pipeline on an ongoing basis or some just get too lonely and miss the daily camaraderie that comes with being a full-time employee. And that’s OK! In fact, many of our most successful consultants enter in and out of the consultant market as a way to keep themselves and their careers invigorated.
Anyway, that’s enough from me for this month. I hope the above hints are useful for those of you considering a career change to an Independent Consultant. And like my Dad always says…FEEL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY!!!
Have a great month!
Deirdre Gruiters
Corporate Talent Agent
www.acetalentnet.com.au
by theEmother | Sep 25, 2008 | inspiring women
call me naughty, but this does appeal to me…
enjoy!
Once upon a time…
a guy asked a girl ‘Will you marry me?’ The girl said:’NO!’…
And the girl lived happily ever-after and went shopping, dancing, camping, drank martinis, always had a clean house, never had to cook, did whatever the hell she wanted, never argued, didn’t get fat, traveled more, had many lovers, didn’t save money, and had all the hot water to herself.
She went to the theater, never watched sports, never wore friggin’ lacy lingerie that acted as bum floss, had high self esteem, never cried or yelled, felt and looked fabulous in sweat pants and was pleasant all the time.
………THE END…..
by theEmother | Sep 16, 2008 | entrepreneurial mothers, inspiring women
another gem that landed in my inbox today (thanks Karmen)
slightly modified for this blog!
again not sure who wrote it, so thank you anyway
enjoy!
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO PLAN TO BE GREAT MUMS,
THOSE OF YOU, WHO ARE GREAT MUMS,
THOSE WHO HAVE GREAT MUMS
THOSE OF YOU WHO HAD GREAT MUMS…
entrepreneurial Mothers don’t eat quiche; they don’t have time to make it.
entrepreneurial Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.
entrepreneurial Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.
entrepreneurial Mothers know that dried play dough doesn’t come out of shag carpets.
entrepreneurial Mothers don’t want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.
entrepreneurial Mothers sometimes ask ‘Why me?’ and get their answer when a little voice says, ‘Because I love you best.’
entrepreneurial Mothers know that a child’s growth is not measured by height or years or grade… It is marked by the progression of Mama to Mum to Mother…
4 YEARS OF AGE – My Mummy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE – My Mum knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE – My Mother doesn’t really know quite everything.
14 YEARS OF AGE – Naturally, Mother doesn’t know that, either.
16 YEARS OF AGE – Mother? She’s hopelessly old-fashioned.
18 YEARS OF AGE – That old woman? She’s way out of date!
25 YEARS OF AGE – Well, she might know a little bit about it.
35 YEARS OF AGE – Before we decide, let’s get Mum’s opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE – Wonder what Mum would have thought about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE – Wish I could talk it over with Mum.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!
Please celebrate the wonderful and beautiful entrepreneurial mothers in your life, you included (if the cap fits).
If you don’t, nothing bad will happen, but if you do, something good will… You will boost a Mother spirits
by theEmother | Sep 8, 2008 | entrepreneurial mothers, inspiring women
This landed in my inbox today (thanks Liz) and it certainly hit a nerve for me, so much so I want to share this with all who choose to read it… the power of one! Not to be forgotten ever thats for sure.
As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard..
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X’s and then putting a big ‘F’ at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child’s past records and she put Teddy’s off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy’s first grade teacher wrote, ‘Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners… he is a joy to be around..’
His second grade teacher wrote, ‘Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle.’
His third grade teacher wrote, ‘His mother’s death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn’t show much interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren’t taken.’
Teddy’s fourth grade teacher wrote, ‘Teddy is withdrawn and doesn’t show much interest in school. He doesn’t have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class.’
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy’s. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children’s laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, ‘Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to.’
After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her ‘teacher’s pets..’
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he’d stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honours. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favourite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor’s degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favourite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer….. The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.
The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.
They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson’s ear, ‘Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference.’
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, ‘Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn’t know how to teach until I met you.’
(For you that don’t know, Teddy Stoddard is the doctor at the Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)
I don’t know who wrote this, or even if its true… but you know what, its still a damn good story worth sharing. I hope you agree.
by theEmother | Aug 20, 2008 | 4 hour work week, entrepreneurial mothers, inspiring women
I trust this month has been all that you planned!…
Aren’t some of these Olympians teaching us a thing or two about understanding what you want and going for it! good on them I say…. speaking of which, if you want to relive Lauren Burns triumph at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, then there is a whole chapter dedicated to that very story in the “Secrets of Inspiring Women Exposed”… see below for details.
Read that article yet?
Tim Ferriss – “The 4 hour work week” … if not, please go here to do so. I have started my own 4 Hour Work Week process, so feel free to keep tabs on my progress by searching this blog using “4 hour work week journey”, and even better, if you subscribe to the RSS feed, updates will come directly to your inbox…couldn’t be easier.
As I always say, be bold and opportunistic … so, the DESIGN your life and make LIFE! work workshop has now been constructed and given great initial feedback. I can’t wait for this to be up and running as attendance will be about giving permission to entrepreneurial mothers (and fathers!) to take the time out to spend on that business idea, or that plan around combining all that you do into making Life! work.
Lets face it, many of us have been “empowered”… but now what?
This workshop will commence the journey of finding the answers, for you…
So in regards to that journey, my question to you is this… how are you going with the “The Entrepreneurial Mothers Guide to Making Life! Work”? … this workshop will be just the thing you need if you’re feeling stuck.
If you think you might have a group that would benefit from having your own workshop, then just reply to this with an email requesting same.
what to do about next School Holidays?…
why not enrich their educational experience as a result of acting on this email…
How to enrich their holistic education experiences?
By partnering with OzSee/Reho Travel/SolvePoverty to conduct a series of pilot familiarisation tours to outback Australia by a multi-cultural, multi-age group of students selected from school and Universities around the country.
Just think about, not only the short-term learning and fun, but also the long-term benefits…
The selected students will form the founder group of an expanding Australia-wide network of youth entrepreneurs, with the first step being to get a snapshot of what it is we need to be thinking about…And for the communities, they benefit economically by getting access to, and introducing visitors to our unique country…
Would you like to know more?
Tours are for 10 days, and the next one commences 25 September 2008… click here for details
(additional dates can be tailored to fit in with your holiday needs)
“Every Day is Mothers Day”…
Buy the “Secrets of Inspiring Women Exposed”, and get a 2nd one free
yes that’s right, get 2 for the price of 1
go on… buy one as a gift for that special someone in your life, and/or that talented student(s) in your life, and keep the other for yourself … to go shopping, click here
Feel free to share this with your friends, family and colleagues, so they can also do what you can do… I would also encourage you to encourage them to “subscribe” at www.theentrepreneurialmother.com.au so that they too can begin a beautiful relationship and receive such gifts into their own inbox!!
be in touch again soon…
cheers denise
P.S. Tours will be 10 days (to fit in with most school holidays) so if you want input into what the tours should look like, and when/where they should be, then please do reply and tell me all about them?
PPS If you have friends or family or fellow entrepreneurial mothers should be interested in this, simply encourage them to subscribe today @ www.theentrepreneurialmother.com.au!
